Ran OUT of gas!

Drive an '10 VFR DCT. All stock. Low fuel light came on and i do what i typically do - - zero out the trip odometer. When the trip odometer was at 33 miles the VFR started making sounds/feedback common with not getting enough fuel. I was only doing 15-25 mph at the time. Only about 10 seconds later it turns off. At that point it was like the computer put it in neutral and I was able to coast to a safe stop. I was lucky in that I was within walking distance of work. I pushed it about 100 yards and parked it in a secure parking lot. About 45 min later I put 1.5 gal of fuel in it. Physically move bike back n forth in attempt to get fuel to slosh around in tank and get to the fuel line. Turned key on and their was about 4-5 seconds of a clicking noise (injectors trying to get fuel?). After the clicking stopped I attempted to start it and after 7 secs of holding the start button down released the button as it did not start (it was trying too . . Just seemed like it wasn't getting fuel). Turned key off. Moved bike around some more front, back, and leaned side to side (did all of this while seated . . Feet on asphalt for good support). Turned key back on and there was the same above clicking sound. Gave the gas one snap/movement and released. Then went to start engine and the VFR fired right up! I was relieved that no special fuel line work was required!!
If I had been driving all highway miles and was tucked in and was doing closer to 65 vs higher . . I am convinced that I could have made it to 40 miles on blinking fuel light status!

 

fuel injection only kicks enough pressure for 2 seconds of cranking, and blipping the throttle when there is nothing happening does not move fuel. but if a FI vehicle floods you can wide open the throttle and crank on it and it will start.

so crank for 2 seconds, if no fire turn key off and try again, repeat process until fuel is returned. if this has happened SEVERAL times with no fire and exhaust smells like gas, hold throttle wide open and crank engine over, be ready to let off or feather throttle.

process is slightly different in a diesel, do not think that needs covered here.

 

Good to know. I wasn't suggesting that what I did was "THE" way to recover. My point was to simply communicate: (A) How far I drove on a blinking light, and (B) It was easy to re-start after pouring in gas.

 

Similar experience here. 50km (31 miles) uphill after it startet to blink and it lost power while accelerating and then died off. The DCT pulled the clutch and I rolled to a stop, no problems other than having to walk another mile uphill to the next petrol station. Came back with a half full coke bottle and she started effortlessly as if we never ran out of fuel.

 

Not that is ever a really good thing to run out of gas, but it certainly provides you with an idea as to how far you have to go before you run out. I can remember riding my old Nighthawk 750 down the Icefields Parkway and seeing a sign that said "Check Fuel - Next Gas 185 km's" and thinking "Damn, I wish I had filled up at the last stop. My buddy Doug and I had never driven that road before and had no idea that there was no fuel available for that great a distance. The road was about 300 km's long with a gas station at the half way mark, unfortunately it was not open year round , so we discovered. My friend and I rode on reserve until we made it to a rest stop along the highway where we met up with an older couple in a motor home and boat. They seemed a bit surprised to see motorcyclists on the road without extra fuel and they offered to serve us lunch and fill our tanks for us from one of the jerry cans they used to refuel their motor boat. We thanked them graciously for their help and offered to pay for the fuel (I think our bikes used maybe 5 gallons between the two of us) but they refused and said they were just glad they could help out. Now we always be sure to take an extra jerry can of fuel with us on a road we have never travelled before, just in case.

 

you mention Fuel LIGHT; am I missing something, all i get is that stupid little line that blinks and you can see when focusing on riding. is there a Light? I've run out of fuel once

 

i think he means the flashing fuel bar....no light on my 2010... 2012 has miles to empty

 

Thanks for doing this for us, so we don't have to. :smile:

On my other bikes, I don't much care about exact range because they either are mostly used for around town or, like the C14, has more way more range than both my bladder and butt. The VFR is going to replace the C14, so I will be touring with it. The limited range (for a touring bike) doesn't bother me, since I rarely go more than 120 miles between breaks. But I do need to watch it more carefully because of it.

Some owners don't like how the VFR fuel gauge is calibrated, but I actually prefer the way Honda made it linear from 1/2 full and less. If the tank is mostly full, why would I care exactly how much fuel I have? It's when it get low that I want good resolution on the gauge.

 

That's exactly what I think too. I estimate the first bar is 6 litres and than 5 times 1.6 litres on the version with the 18.5l tank. And it's quite accurate.
Only I would have made it stop blinking at say another 2l left to have an additional indicator on the last 35...80km (22...50 miles).